mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈmer 

especially before names (ˌ)mer

: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough

mayoral

ˈmā-ə-rəl 

ˈmer-əl;

  ˌmā-ˈȯr-əl 

adjective

Examples of mayor in a Sentence

the mayor of New York

Recent Examples on the Web

Food trucks, local vendors and even a live DJ will also be on deck for the event, alongside appearances by both the Philadelphia and Camden mayor and other special guests. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Analysts say that Burnham's upbringing and experience as mayor have influenced his politics and could help Labour win back working-class voters who have shifted toward right-wing parties in recent years. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 July 2026

Bovo, who resigned his post last year to join a lobbying firm, was a political foe of Hialeah’s current mayor, Bryan Calvo. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Readers of this column and the Orlando Sentinel submitted more than 100 questions for the candidates for Orange County mayor. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maire, from Anglo-French, from Latin major greater — more at major

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mayor

• gayer
• grayer
• greyer
• layer
• nayar
• payer
• payor
• peyer
• player
• preyer
• sayer
• slayer

Kids Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈme(-)ər 

: an official elected to act as head of a city or borough

mayoral

ˈmā-ə-rəl  ˈme- ə- 

adjective

Legal Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər, ˈmer 

: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough